Method and device for downloading settings for an application

ABSTRACT

Settings for an application may be downloaded into a device, for example, to facilitate a request for subscription to a service. The device may be programmed in dependence of at least one predetermined application, such that the device is configured to display a menu in which a user may navigate, the menu being associated with said application and guiding the user. The device may be actuated by means of a keystroke while in said menu causing the device to contact a server and download the settings for the application. The device may contact the server over the air by calling a telephone number loaded into the device and associated with said application. A session may be established with the server, wherein questions and answers are presented in further menus in the device. Thus, the device may be prepared by providing customized application specific menus, which may be self-instructing and user friendly. The menus may guide a user to select the required keystrokes, the number of which may be relatively low.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for downloading settings foran application into a device e.g. facilitating a request forsubscription to a service and downloading the required settings into thedevice. The invention also relates to such a device. The device isprepared by providing customised application specific menus, which areself-instructing and user friendly. The menus guide a user to select therequired keystrokes, the number of which is as low as possible.

STATE OF THE ART

There exists today a lot of services that may be exploited with a e.g.mobile telephone. Before the service may be used the correct settingsmust be introduced into the telephone. One of the strongest barriers forconsumers to start using new services is to actually take the firststep. Many consumers are discouraged by the fact that they have to do alot of things on their own before they can start using the service, andof those who actually try to set up their products in order to try acertain service, many never succeed.

There are many ways for consumers to become aware of new services:operators and manufacturers advertising, user manuals, direct mail fromthe operator, editorial text in various mass media channels, etc. Whenit comes to subscribing, it is a matter of getting in contact with theoperator or service provider, e.g. by phone, by visiting a shop cateringfor the service provider's offerings, or through the service provider'sweb page. In many cases, it also involves receiving a confirmation bymail, signing this, and returning it to the service provider.

Today, consumers are best referred to either the web or WAP site oftheir operator or service provider, or the web site of the manufacturer,to get help with settings they need. At worst, the consumers have to goto the user manuals from the manufacturer or operator for help, or callthe customer service of the operator/manufacturer.

Only the most motivated few are prepared to go through the process fromscratch. Just looking at all the information in the user manual isdiscouraging for many.

When it comes to the OTA (Over The Air) services offered from operators,service providers and manufacturers, there are also some problems. Firstof all, it is a matter of knowing about the possibility of OTA in thefirst place. Second, you need to know where to go, and third, you needto know the user name and password that your service provider hasprovided you with. When you try to enter the service provider's site,this immediately becomes an issue, because if you do not have them, youwill not get in. When you enter the manufacturer's site, you still needto enter this information before the OTA is sent. Otherwise, you stilldo not get access to the service.

In many cases, the user names and passwords are sent by mail to thesubscribers when they first become subscribers, and it is notfar-fetched to assume that many will have forgotten where they keep thedocuments containing this information. Also, it is not far-fetched tobelieve that many will keep these documents at home, while they wouldtypically try to set up their services using their computer at work.This is a trivial but powerful barrier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the above mentioned problems by preparingthe portable device, e.g. a mobile telephone, in advance. Menus arebuilt into the device when customising the device for applicationsexisting on the relevant market. In this way, the required informationis readily at hand in the device and the user is guided through themenus and need only perform some simple keystrokes.

According to one aspect, the invention provides a method for downloadingsettings for an application into a device, comprising the steps of:

programming the device in dependence of at least one predeterminedapplication, such that the device is adapted to display a menu in whicha user may navigate, the menu being associated with said application andguiding the user;

actuating the device by means of a keystroke while in said menu causingthe device to contact a server and download the settings for theapplication.

Preferably, the device contacts the server over the air by calling atelephone number loaded into the device and associated with saidapplication, and a session is established with the server, whereinquestions and answers are presented in further menus in the device.

In one embodiment, information is exchanged between the device and theserver by means of one or more messages in a standardised format. Thestandardised format is suitably SMS.

Preferably, the device is programmed in dependence of severalpredetermined applications, some applications originating from differentservice providers, each having a different server, such that the correctserver associated with the respective application is contacted.

The device may be preset to a specific service provider by selecting aservice provider from a list in a menu, and/or the device is preset to aspecific service provider by inserting a smart card (SIM) containinginformation about possible service providers and services.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a device capable ofdownloading settings for an application, wherein:

the device is programmed in dependence of at least one predeterminedapplication, such that the device is adapted to display a menu in whicha user may navigate, the menu being associated with said application andguiding the user;

and wherein the device is adapted to be actuated by means of a keystrokewhile in said menu causing the device to contact a server and downloadthe settings for the application.

Preferably, the device is adapted to contact the server over the air bycalling a telephone number loaded into the device and associated withsaid application, and the device contains further menus for presentingquestions and answers communicated during a session established with theserver.

In one embodiment, the device is adapted to exchange information withthe server by means of one or more messages in a standardised format.The standardised format is suitably SMS.

Preferably, the device is programmed in dependence of severalpredetermined applications, some applications originating from differentservice providers, each having a different server, such that the correctserver is associated with the respective application.

The device may contain a list in a menu for selecting a service providerto preset the device to a specific service provider, and/or the deviceis adapted to receive a smart card (SIM) containing information aboutpossible service providers to preset the device to a specific serviceprovider.

The device may be a portable telephone, a pager, a communicator, a smartphone or an electronic organiser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be described in detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of menus and information exchangebetween the device and the service provider according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will be described in connection with mobiletelecommunication systems, especially a mobile telephone with which theuser wishes to access a service. Other devices that can use theinvention include pagers, communicators, smart phones and electronicorganisers which may receive applications and settings over the air(OTA).

Today mobile telephones are produced specifically for a certain marketwith a limited number of operators, or specifically for a specificoperator or service provider. The portable device itself is oftencustomised with the operators' trademark and designs and is sometimessold as a package together with a smart card, a SIM (Subscriber IdentityModule) card, containing the mobile telephone number and otherinformation connected to the operator from which the card is purchased.

As is mentioned in the introduction, the operator and/or serviceprovider may provide additional services, or generally contents, whichthe user may access by means of the telephone. However, before thetelephone can be used the settings of the service or contents must beinserted into the device.

The problem is solved according to the present invention by preparingthe device already during the manufacturing thereof by programming thedevice, e.g. by means of JAVA applications, such that the device istailored to request and handle downloading of settings in connectionwith the predetermined services. The program can be contained in thesoftware of the device or on a smart card, such as the SIM card or asuitable combination thereof.

The service provider may be selected from a list in a menu, and/or thedevice is preset to a specific service provider by inserting a smartcard (SIM) containing information about possible service providers andservices.

In this way the device will contain a function that lets the user, fromthe phone's menu system, request an application for subscription to therelevant service. This could be from a separate menu in the phone,catering for all relevant services, e.g. a list to choose from. It couldalso be a specific menu associated with a specific service. E.g., if theuser is in the MMS (Multimedia Message Service) menu, he could select afunction called something like “Subscribe to the MMS service” or simply“Get MMS”.

When the user selects this function, the phone automatically sends arequest, suitably as an SMS (Short Message Service) message. However,all means and formats of sending information are within the scope of theinvention including for instance gprs (General Packet Radio Service) orother systems supporting transmission of data and/or data packets. Themessage is sent to the operator or service provider as a request for theservice.

The request is received by a server connected to the operator networksystem. The server collects the requested data, based on the servicesthe user subscribes to and sends an application back to the mobiledevice. The format of the application can be an SMS or multiple SMS:es,since this is supported by all subscriptions and all terminals from thebeginning. It should contain basic information about the service, suchas cost, and the options open to the user.

The user selects the appropriate option and with support from the phonessecurity functions, such as personal codes like a PIN, he confirms thesubscriptions. The interface for this may be a WAP page that the user isautomatically taken to, provided that the WAP service is active in thephone or another menu.

When the subscription is confirmed, the service provider sends an OTAmessage with the appropriate settings.

The user accepts the settings and is ready to start using the servicewith one final keystroke.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention. Menus displayed onthe mobile telephone are shown to the left, and messages exchangedbetween the mobile device and the server over the air (OTA) are shown tothe right.

In step one the user is in the services menu containing a number ofpossible services, such as SMS, MMS and mobile Internet, etc. Byselecting the first alternative, e.g. by pressing the key 2, the MMSmenu of step 2 is displayed.

We assume that the user wants to install the MMS service. By pressingkey 1 the mobile starts performing the required operations. Thus, aconnection is established with a server by calling the server'stelephone number, which is preloaded in the mobile or the SIM card. Asuitable SMS is selected from the phone's memory containing the requestfor the MMS service and the user identity. The server checks theauthenticity of the request. If the request is approved, the serversends back an SMS to the mobile with the required settings for theservice.

When this is happening, the mobile display can show the text “GettingMMS” or similar. When this is done, the menu may be as shown in step 3,i.e. “Settings downloaded” together with a number of alternatives. Theuser may now install the service, view the settings or cancel theprocedure.

If “1. Install” is selected, the service is installed in the telephoneand the display shows the text “Done” as shown in step 4.

The user may also choose to view the settings by pressing the key 2. Inthis case the settings are shown with a number of options as shown instep 5. The user may now select or deselect options by pressing theassociated number key. When satisfied, the changed settings aresubmitted by pressing the key 5. A new SMS with changed options for theservice is now sent automatically to the server. The server again checksthe authenticity and, if OK, sends back an SMS with the new settings forthe service.

When the new settings are downloaded the menu will be again as shown instep 3.

The invention gives operators and service providers a new channel tosell subscriptions to services and minimises the effort from both usersand operators.

A person skilled in the art will realise that it is possible to vary theappearance of the menus, the keys used to select operations, and theform of messages sent between the mobile and the service withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. The invention is only limitedby the claims below.

1. A method for downloading settings for an application into a device,comprising: programming a menu system of the device in dependence of andpreparation for at least one predetermined application to be downloaded,such that the device is adapted to display a menu in which a user maynavigate, the menu being tailored to handle downloading of settings inconnection with said application and guiding the user; and actuating thedevice by means of a keystroke while in said menu causing the device tocontact a server and download the settings for the application.
 2. Amethod according to claim 1, wherein causing the device to contact theserver comprises: causing the device to contact the server over the airby calling a telephone number loaded into the device and associated withsaid application.
 3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:establishing a session with the server, wherein questions and answersare presented in further menus in the device.
 4. A method according toclaim 1 further comprising: exchanging information between the deviceand the server by means of one or more messages in a standardisedformat.
 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the standardisedformat is short message service (SMS).
 6. A method according to claim 1,wherein programming a menu system of the device comprises: programming amenu system of the device in dependence of several predeterminedapplications, some of the applications originating from differentservice providers, each having a different server, such that a correctserver associated with the respective application is contacted.
 7. Amethod according to claim 5, further comprising: presetting the deviceto a specific service provider by selecting a service provider from alist in a menu.
 8. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:presetting the device to a specific service provider by inserting asmart card (SIM) containing information about possible service providersand services.
 9. A device capable of downloading settings for anapplication comprising: the device being programmed with a menu systemin dependence of and preparation for at least one predeterminedapplication to be downloaded, such that the device is adapted to displaya menu in which a user may navigate, the menu being tailored to handledownloading of settings in connection with said application and guidingthe user; and wherein the device is configured to be actuated by meansof a keystroke while in said menu causing the device to contact a serverand download the settings for the application.
 10. A device according toclaim 9, wherein the device is further configured to contact the serverover the air by calling a telephone number loaded into the device andassociated with said application.
 11. A device according to claim 9,wherein the device further comprises menus for presenting questions andanswers communicated during a session established with the server.
 12. Adevice according to claim, wherein the device is further configured toexchange information with the server by means of one or more messages ina standardised format.
 13. A device according to claim 12, wherein thestandardised format is SMS.
 14. A device according to claim 9 whereinthe device is programmed in dependence of several predeterminedapplications, some of the applications originating from differentservice providers, each having a different server, such that a correctserver is associated with the respective application.
 15. A deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein the device comprises a list in a menu forselecting a service provider to preset the device to a specific serviceprovider.
 16. A device according to claim 14, wherein the device isconfigured to receive a smart card (SIM) containing information aboutpossible service providers to preset the device to a specific serviceprovider.
 17. A device according to claim 9 wherein the device is aportable telephone, a pager, a communicator, a smart phone or anelectronic organiser.